Page 23 of Outrun The Devil
“I'm sorry, I can't remember much else,” Sarah replied, looking apologetic. “But I remember she mentioned that he was always bothering her and trying to talk to her. She seemed uncomfortable around him.”
“That's a good start,” Nathan said, his mind already racing with ideas. “Do you have any idea where we could find him?”
Sarah shook her head. “I'm sorry, I don't. But maybe you could try asking around in her uh, mathematics class? Honestly, I don’t even know what course she is taking. Anyways, someone might know who he is.”
Olivia handed the girl her card, the briefest of touches and she got flashes of a club. Dimly lit. A man in a black suit.
“One last question,” Olivia began. “Was there a place that you guys like to unwind, have a little fun, let loose? Go dancing?”
Sarah looked nervous for a moment. “Yeah, there’s this place in Tolleson, The Hive. We’ve only been there a few times.”
The Hive. The images that flashed before Olivia made her think of the childhood cartoon, Winnie the Pooh. Though, she doubted it held the same resemblance.
Olivia and Nathan thanked the girls before making their way back to their car. As they drove to the university, Olivia couldn't shake the feeling that they were getting closer to finding out who was responsible for Claire's death. Olivia noticed Nathan deep in thought.
“What are you thinking about?” she asked.
“That maybe she had a stalker from her class but also that it just doesn’t make much sense either,” Nathan sighed. “Especially since it would mean they stalked both victims and we have nothing to support that theory.”
Olivia shrugged. “We'll start with her classmates and see where it leads us.” She agreed with Nathan on this but they had to follow every lead and see where it took them.
They headed straight to the mathematics department and began asking around about Claire's classes. It didn't take long before they were pointed in the direction of Professor Reynolds, who taught the class that her friends suggested.
After explaining the situation to him, he was more than willing to help. “I can give you a list of all the students in the class, and their contact information,” he said. “But I must warn you, there are quite a few students in that class. It could take a while to talk to them all.”
Olivia and Nathan exchanged a look before nodding in agreement. “We understand. We're willing to do whatever it takes to find out what happened to Claire,” Olivia said.
“Good luck,” Professor Reynolds said as he handed them the list.
Olivia passed it to Nathan. “Thanks.”
While Claire’s friends weren’t all that helpful, Olivia didn’t get the feeling that any of them were capable of that kind of gruesome murder. She did think that someone saw something, and they just were too afraid to say something.
Her visions, or lack thereof, added another layer of complication. Normally, her heightened intuition and ability to tap into her psychic abilities were valuable assets in solving cases. But lately, her visions had become unreliable, flickering in and out like a faulty light bulb. It was as if her mind was playing tricks on her, withholding the information she desperately needed to piece together the puzzle.
The frustration mounted, but Olivia refused to let it deter her. She knew there was more to this case than met the eye, and she was determined to uncover the truth, visions or no visions. She would have to rely on traditional investigative techniques, her intuition, and the limited information she could gather from witnesses and evidence.
But they did walk away with something, a club by the name of The Hive. Olivia hoped that they found answers within its walls. With her phone already out, she sent a quick text to Patel. Collins knew Patel and Diaz would delve into its ownership, clientele, and any potential connections to the ongoing case. They needed to uncover every possible lead, and The Hive seemed like a promising avenue to explore.
Lordy, Olivia needed a hot bath and a generous glass of wine. But her day was far from over.
Chapter Seven
“And why do you feel that way?”
Olivia’s fingers beat a nervous rhythm against the stiff leather of the couch, creating a maddening hum in the room that felt as if it was closing in on her. The stale air was heavy with the smell of antiseptic—a reminder of where she was and why. The stark white walls made her feel trapped, and the clock looming over her like a judgmental eye only added to her growing dread. Deep inside, Olivia knew there was no way out of this situation.
Dr. Grace Monroe stared intently at Olivia, the silence between them growing with each passing second. Out of the corner of her eye, Olivia noticed a gust of wind blowing leaves across the pavement outside the window, a subtle reminder that freedom was only a few feet away. As much as she wanted to leave, she knew that she had to stay to keep her career on track.
Olivia had avoided therapists for years, certain that they were only for those who were broken and unable to handle life's obstacles alone. And yet here she was in Dr. Monroe's office, subjected to intense scrutiny and questioning. She briefly thought of all the other things she could be doing with her time instead and felt a wave of resentment wash over her.
Today was her last session, and while Olivia felt relief at being able to wrap up her therapy soon, a part of her also feared what would happen without Dr. Monroe's guidance. How would she cope with life's challenges from now on?
She swallowed, the sound echoing in the quiet room, and forced herself to meet the therapist's gaze.
Olivia's teeth grazed her bottom lip as she drew it in, her eyes wandering around the room. The sterile walls seemed to close in on her, suffocating her with their blandness. She let out a frustrated exhale, the sound echoing in the quiet space.
“Why do I feel what way?” she asked, her voice tinged with irritation. She forced a tight smile, but the tension in her jaw was palpable. “Like this is a waste of time?”